View full sizeFormer U.S. Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, pictured in September 2012, will host a new radio show on WSYR News Radio in Syracuse starting May 25.John Berry | The Post-Standard

Former U.S. Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (R-Onondaga Hill) may be keeping mum on her future political plans, but she'll be talking plenty at her next gig.

Buerkle will be the host of a new show on WSYR News Radio in Syracuse, starting Saturday, May 25 from 11 a.m. to noon.

Clear Channel Communications market manager Joel Delmonico says she'll be on the air once a month for now, but expects her to soon be on the air at 570 AM and 106.9 FM every other week.

The format will be "much less of a political show and more informational," he added. "When it's appropriate she'll have guests."

Buerkle announced she'd be starting the Saturday morning show on her Facebook campaign page Wednesday, and invited friends and fans to send in topic suggestions for her first broadcast in Central New York.

"Since that is Memorial Day weekend," Buerkle wrote, "I thought it would be appropriate to talk about our military. Remembering and honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice; talking about our veterans and those who are currently serving. What services do we have within our community and what is lacking for our veterans? If you have any ideas for the show, I would love to hear from you."

Buerkle didn't provide contact info for listeners to call in or email her during the show, but Delmonico said those details will be made available closer to the launch next week.

Delmonico said the show was proposed by a group of Buerkle supporters, "because of her experience and knowledge in government."

The same group, whose name was unavailable at the time, paid for the time slot similar to other weekend shows on WSYR like the Home Repair Workshop and Terry's Transmission Car Care Clinic.

When Buerkle's show is on, it will take the place of Rochester-based broadcaster Bob Lonsberry's weekend show "Your Hometown." Lonsberry replaced longtime local personality Jim Reith more than a year ago on the afternoon drive Monday through Friday in Syracuse.

Lonsberry's not upset about losing his Saturday shift on WSYR, Delmonico said, noting that she's been a frequent guest on his weekday show. "He's a strong supporter of hers."

The Republican from Onondaga Hill beat current Rep. Dan Maffei (D-DeWitt) by 648 votes in the 2010 election to represent the 25th Congressional District from 2011 to 2013. She lost her seat in their rematch for the redrawn 24th Congressional District last November, losing by more than 16,000 votes.

Though Buerkle has previously said she'll consider running against Maffei a third time in 2014, she has not announced any decisions about a possible candidacy.

Last month, she filed a campaign termination letter with the Federal Election Commission and emptied her campaign bank account, but told The Post-Standard it was simply a bookkeeping matter. "Absolutely no decision has been made regarding whether to run," she said in April.

Initial reactions to the news of Buerkle's radio show have been mixed.

"This is a terrific move," syracuse.com user Storek wrote. "Articulate, enthusiastic, logical and speaks with facts and conviction. That is a combination the libs fear and hate."

"AMB: the voters in your district showed you, in November, our opinion of you. Did you not catch the drift? Please just go away," spantchr said.

"Amazing how political nerds broadcast and interact with like-minded politicos, then they think, because they have found agreement with their buddies, that everyone espouses their views," malachymoon added. "Doesn't matter which party or political outlook, they are all the same. They all go into a closet, laugh and giggle, brag how much the other side is stupid, then go away feeling smart."

What do you think? Will you listen to Ann Marie Buerkle's radio show on WSYR?